Irvine Times | Sport | MEADOW BOSS BEMOANS REF DECISIONS

Wednesday, 7th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 19th November, 2008 08:00

MEADOW BOSS BEMOANS REF DECISIONS

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Beith 4 v 2 Irvine Meadow

IRVINE Meadow boss Chris Strain hit out at the performance of the referee as his side lost out to fellow title hopefuls Beith at the weekend.

He didn't spare his own players, though, criticising defending which led to two setpiece goals in the 4-2 defeat.

He told sporttimes: "I don't want to blame the referee, but he was poor and throwing yellow cards out, mainly at our guys, although he didn't score two setpiece goals against us."

An-ill disciplined Meadow side had midfielder Gareth Turner, defender Chris McGowan and manager Chris Strain sent off as they crashed to their second league defeat of the season.

The game boiled over seconds before the break when Turner, who had continued to test referee Craig’s patience since his earlier booking, lunged into a challenge on Beith midfielder Martin Stewart to collect his second yellow.

Jaconelli and McGowan also collected yellows before the teams left the pitch all square but with Meadow now a man down.

Beith pushed Spence and Arbuckle into more forward wide positions and they forged in front four minutes after the beak when Spence burst into the box to slam home a free kick.

Meadow were stung into action and they took only two minute to get back on level terms when Beith keeper Ross appeared to misjudge a swerving Strain corner and Davie Hamilton stabbed the ball over the line before Derek McCulloch could clear.

The home side made the extra man tell when they forced another corner and John Sheridan headed Spence’s centre back across goal for Andy Reid to head home close in. Beith continued to press and they went 3-1 up on the hour mark when great play by Brian McKeown in midfield created an opening for Reid to rifle in his second from the edge of the box.

Meadow defender Chris McGowan collected a second yellow for comments to the referee and joined his manager, who had been banished from the touchline for his own indiscipline, in the clubhouse.

Beith continued to threaten, particularly when John Spence had possession, and he planted a corner right on the head of John Sheridan with ten minutes remaining for the big defender to head home powerfully at the back post to definitely seal the points.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring however because Meadow captain Swift followed up to shoot home after Ross had made a good save following a fine Meadow move.

Meadow will no doubt pin their disappointment on their dismissals but their top down indiscipline was there for all to see while the home side continue to build on a great team spirit and undoubtedly deserved their victory.